February 17, 2023
Last March, actor Bruce Willis announced that he was suffering from aphasia, leading him to end his career. Today, in a press release, his relatives specify the diagnosis, explaining that he is the victim of frontotemporal dementia. What is it about ?
« Since we announced Bruce’s aphasia diagnosis in the spring of 2022, his condition has deteriorated and we now have a more accurate diagnosis. “, thus explained the family of the actor on the social networks, evoking now a fronto-temporal dementia. ” Although it’s painful, it’s a relief to finally have a clear diagnosis. ».
Irreversible…
Frontotemporal degeneration (FTD) is a neurodegenerative disease, related to Alzheimer’s disease. », Explains the Federation for Brain Research (FRC). ” Unlike the latter, which affects almost the entire brain, FTD mainly affects the frontal and temporal lobes.. »
The fronto-temporal zone concerns language, behavior or even movement capacities. ” People with FTD may thus present memory problems, often episodic, behavioral changes, or even difficulties in speaking or moving. »
Slow and progressive, this form of dementia is irreversible and affects subjects younger than those with Alzheimer’s disease, generally between the ages of 45 and 65.
An unknown origin
Genetic factors seem to partly explain the origin of FTD. But they are not enough to explain the various clinical manifestations observed in patients. Thus, a history of head trauma or even a thyroid pathology could also be involved.
Finally, at present, there is no effective treatment to slow the progression of this disease. The treatments available focus mainly on the symptoms.
To note : Fronto-temporal degeneration accounts for 20% of degenerative dementias. In France, 5,000 people are affected, both women and men.